odds and ends

ODDS AND ENDS

First, I must thank friends and family for their support. You have no idea how much that means to me to have people thinking of me and wishing me well. It makes a positive experience out of a potentially negative one. You have all helped more than you’ll ever know. If this party ends tomorrow I’ll have no regrets and so many good vibrations from near and far. Thank You All.

Yesterday Gay picked me up at 6:30am and drove me to Traverse City, about a 45 minute drive. I had a date with the radiology department at 7:30 for a “CT-guided needle biopsy”. It did not sound like much fun and it wasn’t. They used a CT scanner to determine a route to my pancreas then punched a hole in my chest and inserted a long needle into the tumor and extracted several samples. I’d like to say it was painless but that would be a lie. It hurt a lot.

I then had to spend two hours under observation in a recovery room. It had a nice flatscreen TV on the wall and a very nice young man who attended to my every need. After one hour I could order breakfast from a menu that was the equal to most restaurants. I had a western omelet which was wonderful and a cup of coffee. After two hours they let me go and Gay drove me home. Words cannot express my appreciation for her support and friendship. Thank you, Gay.

The results from the MRI and the biopsy will be forwarded to my oncologist, Dr. Schwart. I have an appointment with him on Wednesday, August 29. I expect to have a complete picture of my condition and a general idea of treatment on that date.

My granddaughter Rachel is getting married on September 1. I plan to be in the first row, wearing my pink sport coat. My best wishes for her and her man Kurtis. My advice to them is to live one day at a time, knowing that life is short and every day is precious.

  Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment. Buddha